Smith’s Brilliant 89 Rescues England on a 13-Wicket Day Against Pakistan
Jamie Smith’s stunning knock helps England post 267 on a tricky Rawalpindi pitch.
With 13 wickets lost on an exciting opening day, England and Pakistan got off to a sensational start in the third and final Test match at Rawalpindi. Jamie Smith’s dominant 89 helped England record a difficult 267 after winning the toss for the first time in the series. Pakistan responded by finishing the day 194 runs behind at 73 for 3.
Key Performances and Match Scorecard
Pakistan 73 for 3 (Masood 16*, Shakeel 16*) trail England 267 (Smith 89, Duckett 52, Sajid 6-128) by 194 runs.
Match Analysis
Jamie Smith’s brave effort, which combined grit and counterattack to steady the ship after a stunning collapse, saved England from early trouble. Smith’s 107-run partnership with Gus Atkinson (39) helped England produce a competitive total on a pitch that offered unpredictable bounce, even though England’s innings was in ruins at 118 for 6.
Smith’s performance, which included three sixes and six boundaries, was essential in confounding Pakistan’s bowlers, especially off-spinner Sajid Khan, who took an incredible six wickets (6 for 128). England finished Pakistan’s top order on the defensive thanks to Smith’s knock, which also helped them reach a decent score.
Pakistan’s star bowler, Sajid Khan, tore through England’s batting order. He took five wickets for the third time in his career, preventing England from building on their middle-order comeback. Smith’s counterattack dashed their chances of dismissing the visitors cheaply, but Sajid’s spin and Noman Ali’s (3 for 88) assistance kept England in check.
Pakistan relies heavily on spin on this Rawalpindi surface, as evidenced by the spinners bowling 57.2 of the 68.2 overs. No fast bowler bowled in a team’s opening innings for just the second time in Test history.
Ben Duckett gave England a respectable start with 52 off 94 deliveries prior to Smith’s resistance. England reached 56 for no loss thanks to a calm start from Duckett, but the wickets quickly fell. The ground began to behave badly, as England lost five wickets for just 42 runs, leaving their innings in ruins.
At lunch, England scored 110 for 5 thanks to a calm knock from Duckett, but key players like Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Zak Crawley were dismissed by deliveries that stayed low.
The cautious start to Pakistan’s chase was swiftly halted by England’s bowlers. After a strong start, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique, Pakistan’s openers, faltered. Pakistan was reduced to 73 for 3 at stumps by Atkinson’s accurate bowling and Leach’s quick turn.
Shan Masood (16*) and Saud Shakeel (16*), who will return on day two, are currently Pakistan’s main prospects.
